Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is one of the most economically damaging cattle diseases in Scotland, causing abortion, infertility, poor performance, and death. To build on the Scottish Governments industry-led scheme to eradicate BVD, Phase 6 of the eradication scheme begins on 1 July 2025, introducing key changes for all herd types.

What’s Changing from 1 July 2025

• Persistently Infected (PI) animals on a Non-Breeding holding must be separately housed from the first positive test. If a PI animal is still present within the keepership after 40 days, the CPH will be listed on the PI locator on ScotEID (in line with breeding herds).
• BVD management tags: BVD sampling from birth can now be carried out using management tags, although official tags are still recommended.
• Change to when ON movement restrictions begin: a 40 day period is allowed after the upload of a BVD Positive antigen/virus result, before ON movement restrictions are imposed. This period allows time for retesting of the PI by the vet, and/or removal of the animal. It is advised that the retest is carried out at least 3 weeks after the first sample was taken. Note: PI animals must continue to be housed separately from the first test.

Further to the above, there will be additional changes from 1 February 2026 as detailed on the BVD Phase 6 – Important Changes leaflet, which has been sent out to all cattle keepers.

ScotEID is pleased to help promote a new research initiative led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the University of Nottingham, which aims to improve how cattle disease is managed across all four nations of the UK. Please note: It’s specifically aimed at those who keep cattle.

The project team is calling on cattle keepers to share their experience and knowledge to help shape better disease control strategies. Information about the project can be found at www.bvdplatform.org

They’re asking for just 15 minutes of your time to complete a short questionnaire — your input could make a real difference to the future health of our national herd.

Take part and help inform this important work:

👉 Click here to access the questionnaire

Please note: ScotEID is not involved in conducting this research but is sharing this opportunity on behalf of SRUC and the University of Nottingham.

ScotEID, working in partnership with the Scottish Government's Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) Division, has launched a new online system to record Bluetongue Virus (BTV-3) vaccinations.

This system enables livestock keepers to record vaccinated animals (cattle, sheep, and goats) by entering their individual identification numbers. All vaccinations must be recorded on ScotEID within 48 hours of being administered.

The vaccine recording tool is built on the existing ScotEID platform and is designed to be simple and easy to use. Livestock keepers already familiar with ScotEID will find the process straightforward.

Key features of the system include:

• Recording individual animals vaccinated on the holding (cattle, sheep, and goats)
• Reminder notifications when booster vaccinations are due
• Future-ready functionality for recording other disease vaccinations, such as Foot and Mouth Disease
• Support for other susceptible species, recorded via the GOV.UK form

Please speak to your local vet about a vaccination strategy and always follow the vaccine manufacturer’s instructions.

For more information and to access the vaccine recording system, log in to your ScotEID account or visit the Bluetongue Virus guidance page.

At midnight on Friday 25 April the ScotEID database system will be offline for one hour for scheduled maintenance.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause users.

At the NFUS conference on Friday 7 February John Swinney MSP, First Minister announced that Scotland would introduce Ultra High Frequency (UHF) electronic identification (EID) for cattle.  During the subsequent question and answer session Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands confirmed that UHF EID would be introduced by the end of 2026.  A link to the First Ministers announcement is attached below:

https://www.gov.scot/news/new-deal-for-agriculture/

From 1 January 2025, calves will only be eligible for a SSBSS payment if:

• their dam has a calving interval threshold of 410 days or less, or
• if the calf is the first registered birth associated with that dam

The 410 day calving interval threshold will remain unchanged for the 2026 scheme year.

You can read more about the rules in these Frequently Asked Questions.

For the new SSBSS scheme condition on calving intervals, the calving interval will be calculated based on ScotEID birth registration data. All calf births must be registered on ScotEID within 27 days of birth in accordance with the cattle identification and traceability regulations. Unregistered calves will not be considered when establishing a calving interval for SSBSS.

The cattle identification and traceability regulatory requirements for registering a live calf that dies or a still born calf are:

The Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory for 2024 is NOW CLOSED.

Should you have any queries relating to the survey that are not connected to completing it, please email sheepandgoatinventory@gov.scot

Holding registers for cattle and sheep are available to download from the following links:

Cattle Holding Register

Sheep Holding Register

The Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory for 2024 is now open and available for completion at www.scoteid.com/survey

Sheep and Goat keepers have been sent an email from the Animal Health and Welfare Disease Prevention Team within Scottish Government.

The SGAI is available to complete via the online survey only. More information is available in the guidance. The survey closes on the 30th January 2025, please ensure your Sheep and Goat Annual Inventory is completed by then.

Should you have any queries relating to the survey that are not connected to completing it, please email sheepandgoatinventory@gov.scot

Click here to read the Scottish Government official notice to complete the annual inventory.